Leaderette: In recent years, around the eastern part of Beijing, many artist studios gradually emerged. The place where many painters reside is known as "the Artist's Village". Among which, "798" is an old factory transformed by artists, "22 Court Street" is an art street in the CBD area, and the Kwan-yin Hall is a gallery built by the government. Groups of Chinese and foreign artists gathered in these "villages", especially young artists. They are regarded as the "incubators" of contemporary Chinese art, culture and creative industry. From this day onwards, we are going to introduce a few of these typical art areas.
798 are three numbers which have been endued with the connotation of art. In 2006, the Beijing Municipal Government listed 798 as one of the first batch of cultural and creative industry areas. In January 2008, 798 was selected as one of the six major attractions during the Beijing Olympics.
798 is located in the Dashangzi area of northeast Beijing, it is the former site of the state-owned 798 factory. Around 2002, this place with its unique architectural style and low-cost rent was discovered by some Beijing artists. After being reclaimed again an again, these old factories have gradually been transformed into the unique art exhibition and production areas, which form a unique art village.
Early in the morning at 798 Art District, the rusty pipes and slogans from the "Cultural Revolution" era appear to be serene and ancient, while large French gallery windows and a set of steel sculptures in different forms suddenly brings you back to reality.
In front of the towering chimneys and factories, newlyweds are taking wedding photographs. At the exclusive exhibition of Chinese painting by the Wanshou creation society of North Korea, a tourist is indulging himself in front of a landscape painting called "Wave hit midstream". At a cultural relic's exhibition with the theme "Let the art disappear" at the Forbidden City, an old man is standing still carefully appreciating the work.
At 798's artistic creativity plazas, a foreign tourist is fascinated by the graffiti on the wall, and is taking photos.
Wu xijun, vice-minister of the propaganda department in Chaoyang district said, "the 798 Art District had international character from the very start, which established a theme of pure contemporary art and meets with international culture without any language barrier.
Developing diversityWalking along the orderly planned roads at 798, you can see the large-scale exhibitions are freely displayed in the spacious and newly decorated Bauhaus buildings. While the bars, restaurants and fashion shops are opposite. 798 is not a paradise: the crowds of visitors have brought commercial elements. The large-scale galleries, restaurants and coffee shops attract tourists, and the individual artists have gradually quit. Ling Song, owner of the Century Hanmo gallery which moved into the 798 Art District five years ago said, "Art congregated popularity and then the popularity brought galleries."
Although some artists moved their personal studios out due to the rising rents and noisy environment, the function of "the Artist's Village" diversified. From the artists' studio and production base to displaying work and a trading venue and now it's a place with leisure and sightseeing characteristics, the industry chain and growth mechanism of 798 have been adjusted continuously.
Tian Huangfeng, the curator said, "Since the transformation of 798 Art District has happened, the art itself requires support from commerce. After all, art is a superstructure, and if there is no foundation, the art is like a mirage. The key is how to support, and this is where the attention should be paid. No matter whether it is a tourist center or sightseeing, they can both play a positive role to some extent."
Symbol of Chinese contemporary art going worlwide Now, the influence of the 798 Art District is expanding continuously, and the tourist flow is on the increase.
According to the relevant principal of 798's management office, some international dignitaries and celebrities have visited the Art District, including Rogge, the President International Olympic Committee; Barroso, the President of European Commission; Sarkozy, the French President; Schroeder, the former German Chancellor, and Antonio Samaranch, the president of the International Olympic Committee. During the Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, the Art District received a total of 25 international dignitaries and celebrity visitors. During the 2008 Olympic Games and the "1st October" —— Golden Week, the number the Art District visitors reached as high as 70 million.
More than 200 media outlets at home and abroad have reported the 798 Art District, and therefore Beijing has been awarded as one of the "World's Top 12 Cities" and "one of twenty development potential cities". Philip Dodd, former director of the British Contemporary Art Center said, "From London to New York, and then to Paris, each person who is concerned with art is talking about 798."
798 is the symbol of Chinese contemporary art going worldwide. Wu xijun said, "it is not exaggerating to say that the 798 Art District has become the new landmark of Chinese contemporary art and Chinese contemporary art display and trading center. More significantly, it has been regarded as a showpiece of the development of Chinese contemporary art and culture."
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